Man Allegedly Killed Girlfriend, Baby, Burnt Their Bodies

A man was arrested after the charred remains of his girlfriend and baby were found on a vacant land in Kimberley, a city in South Africa on Sunday.

The incident came to light early Sunday after a passer-by stumbled upon the bodies while taking a short-cut to reach the main road.

“I got such a fright when I saw the body. She was lying on her back and her face was blackened by the ash. I later learnt that her child was also burnt,” the passer-by said, local website Independent Online reported.

Police officers arrived at the scene and found the bodies hidden among dense bushes and trees. Elias Lesite, one of the villagers present at the scene, managed to identify the bodies as that of his 22-year-old daughter Kantsimang and her one-year-old son.

“I had not realized that it could be them. After standing with the other community members at the crime scene for some time after we heard what happened, I went to check. My daughter and grandson were badly burnt but I still managed to recognize them. The baby was lying in his mother’s arms,” he said.

Lesite told the officers that his daughter lived with her boyfriend. Meanwhile, the officers found drag marks and two sets of footprints near the bodies.

A family member said the victim wanted to leave her boyfriend on several occasions.

“They were living together for about two years. At one point she moved out of the shanty (hut) to stay with other family members but would bring the child to visit his father,” the family member said.

Police spokesperson Olebogeng Tawana said the 35-year-old suspect was taken into custody Sunday evening.

“Investigation resulted in the arrest of the 35-year-old man who is believed to be the deceased’s boyfriend and the father of the baby,” the spokesperson said, adding, “He is expected to appear in the Barkly West Magistrate’s Court tomorrow (Monday) on two counts of murder charges.”